O2 trials LTE in the UK

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O2 and Huawei have completed their first trial of Long Term Evolution (LTE) in the UK, offering next-generation connectivity on mobile phones.

Don’t get too excited though as the companies aren’t planning to roll it out commercially yet.

This first fully operational trial of the technology managed to reach mobile internet download speeds of 150Mbps in the Slough area where O2’s headquarters are based.

Also known as 4G, LTE aims to increase performance for data rich applications such as high definition video streaming, mobile gaming, high speed file transfer and video conferencing.

Although the trial has been a success, an O2 spokesperson told IT PRO: “The LTE trial was just a one day trial in Slough – we have no current plans to roll anything out at the moment.”

Huawei has deployed 25 LTE networks across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East but it is the company’s first time working with O2’s parent company Telefonica.

Derek McManus, chief technology officer of O2 UK, said in a statement: ”We are pleased to collaborate with Huawei on this LTE trial, which will allow us to better understand this emerging technology and prepare us in offering our customers next generation mobile broadband services in the future.”

O2 first announced the trial back in October this year as part of a pan-European trial across six countries.

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